Slovakia is going to introduce the euro

Ministry of Finance, 13.12.2008

Slovakia plans to adopt the euro on January 1, 2009, and today final preparatory actions are taken for the changeover. In December, postal departments, commercial banks and central bank of Slovakia started the euro changeover to crowns which caused forming of long queues.

Slovak mint started production of the euro already in August this year. Design of coins was chosen at national referendum. The €1 and €2 coins depict a double cross on three hills, as featured in the national emblem of Slovakia. The 10, 20 and 50 cent coins show Bratislava castle and the national emblem of Slovakia. The 1, 2 and 5 cent coins feature the Tatra Mountains' peak, Kriváň, a symbol of the sovereignty of the Slovak nation, and the national emblem of Slovakia.

Since August, in Slovak shops dual price display takes place providing prices both in crowns and euro. It helps people to adapt and get used to the new currency. Similar measures are also planned in Latvia when it will come closer to the euro changeover day which has to be named by the government at least two years before the planned target date.